New local restaurants to open in 2014

About 40 area restaurants already are planning to open new locations in the new year.

A rendering of the private dining room for Avenue5, the fine-dining restaurant replacing McCabe's Irish Pub & Grill on Fifth Avenue South in downtown Naples.

The Cider Press Cafe, a vegetarian and vegan restaurant, is targeted to open in mid-January in Piper's Crossing, where Airport-Pulling meets Immokalee Road in North Naples.

Cavo, a major restaurant/lounge project under construction at Mercato, is targeted to open in late April by Rocky Patel, who also operates the adjacent Burn cigar lounge, background, in the North Naples center.

Rendering of Flo's Clam Shack in Naples created by eMERGE design LLC of Naples. A two-story facade will be added this year to the old Pizza Hut, left, on U.S. 41 in Naples to create a New England-style eatery.

HaVen Gastro Lounge is targeted to open after season in the former space of Johnny Rockets at Bell Tower Shops. The new South Beach-inspired restaurant and bar has wrap-around video walls.

Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern is projected to open in mid-April in Mercato. The Ohio-based chain's first Florida location will be in a 4,300-square-foot space located between Bravo! Cucina Italiana, left, and The Counter in the North Naples center.

The second area location of Bokamper's Sports Bar & Grill is opening soon at the former home of Hemingway's Island Grill in Coconut Point.

Chef Charles Mereday plans to open Alto, his second local restaurant and a new jazz club, on Feb. 7 at 492 Bayfront Place in Naples.

French Folies family restaurant is targeted to open at the end of January or the beginning of February in the Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt in North Naples.

345 Caffe Italiano sandwich/coffee shop plans to open in February or March in a new space across Strada Place from The Counter burger bar and the Piazza at Mercato in North Naples.

Tavern West is moving into the former home of Big Al's City Grill, 8004 Trail Blvd., off U.S. 41 North in North Naples.

Araya Sushi Asian Grill is coming soon to Uptown Center in the former space of Dunkin’ Donuts, which recently moved to another location off Immokalee Road.

A rendering of SS Hookers, a seafood restaurant and bar expected to open in May at the base of the Sanibel Causeway in south Fort Myers.

Collier County's first Jamba Juice is planned to open in the old Kentucky Fried Chicken location at 3091 U.S. 41 E., on the corner of Andrew Drive in East Naples.

Martin Fierro Argentine Steakhouse is preparing to open in January between Moravela's Pizza and the Comcast office in Marquesa Plaza, 13040 Livingston Road.

Al Carbon Peruvian Rotisserie Chicken and Bakery is set to open soon in the former space of Martin Fierro Steakhouse in Radio Road Plaza, 6002 Radio Road, East Naples.

The Crust, a thin-crust pizzeria, salad and subs restaurant, is planned for the first quarter of the year in the former longtime Pad Thai Restaurant location near LA Fitness in The Pavilion shopping center in North Naples.

Skillets plans to open its fifth area location in March 2014 in the Publix-anchored Pelican Strand shopping center off Immokalee Road in North Naples.

Pizza Hut plans to open a new location by the end of February near Stevie Tomato's Sports Page in Pebblebrooke Center in North Naples. The retail outlet only for takeout and delivery service will be similar to locations the national pizzeria chain also plans to open this year in Freedom Square in East Naples and Bay Landing in Bonita Springs. All three area locations will be operated by Kansas-based NPC International Inc., Pizza Hut's largest franchisee with more than 1,275 stores in 28 states.

Culver's, which opened its first Florida location, above, in fall 2013 in North Naples, plans to open second locations in both Collier and south Lee counties this year. The Wisconsin-based restaurant chain is opening a south Fort Myers location on U.S. 41 north of College Parkway this spring. In mid or late 2014, Culver's also is opening an East Naples location on U.S. 41 East next to the Fifth Third Bank near Shops at Eagle Creek.

Checkers drive-in off Pine Ridge Road in North Naples is targeted to reopen March 1 after closing Dec. 2 because of an early morning electrical fire.

Burger 21, which opened its first area location (above) in December in Gulf Coast Town Center, is looking for a North Naples site to open in October.

Burger 21

Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery is targeted to open in mid-March in "the castle," the former location for Ballyorney, Dwyer's Irish Pub and Ichabod's.

Saladworks is planning to open its second Naples-area location about March 1. The restaurant franchise of made-to-order entrée salads, wraps, soups and sandwiches hopes to start construction in January in a space between Beall's and Target in Pine Ridge Crossing shopping center on the southwest corner of Airport-Pulling and Pine Ridge roads.

Citrola’s Grill & Pizzeria is set to open its third Lee County location at the end of January in the former Starz Pizzeria location on McGregor Boulevard in south Fort Myers. Pictured is Citrola’s on College Parkway in south Fort Myers.

Citrola's

La Bazenne, a new French restaurant, is replacing two former adjacent eateries that closed this summer on Fifth Avenue South. Gone are Uncle Louie G's Italian Ices & Ice Cream, left, and La Villa on 5th pizzeria, bakery and café.

The second Inca's Kitchen is planned for early 2014 in The Pavilion shopping center space of the former China Pavilion, which closed three years ago after operating for more than 25 years.

Joey D’s Italian Restaurant & Bar has postponed opening its third area location until after season in the former location of Augustina’s A Taste of Chicago on the southeast corner of Davis Boulevard and Airport-Pulling Road in East Naples.

DeRomo’s Gourmet Market & Restaurant is now shooting to open in March in The Promenade at Bonita Bay in Bonita Springs. The nearly 18,000-square-foot business will occupy adjacent units vacated by Silver Spoon Cafe, Starbucks and other former businesses at The Promenade, located on U.S. 41 at South Bay Drive.

DeRoma's

China Chef is coming in 2014 to Carillon Place, the shopping center on the southwest corner of Airport-Pulling and Pine Ridge roads.

Co-owners Flemming and Gitte Madsen are seen July 30, 2013, at Delicious Raw Juice Bar in downtown Naples. The couple is opening a second area location this year for their all-natural juice drinks and smoothies in the Target-anchored Pine Ridge Crossing shopping center in North Naples.

Taro milk tea is one of 30 flavors of Taiwanese-style dessert beverages available at Boba Tea 21, targeted to open in February in a food court kiosk in Coastland Center mall in Naples.

Boba Tea 21

Ter-Tini’s is opening with a party starting at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31. The new martini and tapas bar is next to Gator Lanes Bowling Center, 7050 Crystal Drive, just off Cleveland Avenue north of College Parkway, in south Fort Myers.

Ter-Tini's

The vacant outparcel just west of Wendy's, upper right, in Green Tree Center off Immokalee Road, seen in background, soon will be the home of Taco Bell in North Naples.

Expect news soon about a national restaurant chain opening in the former longtime Perkins Restaurant & Bakery location that closed nearly two years ago in Park Shore Plaza on U.S. 41 North in Naples.